NOVGO.NET Chapter 160: Communication Wristband
Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Communication Wristband
Francis Grant took the box, pushed it in front of Luna Dawson and her companions, and slowly opened it. "This is the latest communication bracelet developed by the base. Ordinary electronic products have basically become unusable since the apocalypse, but this one uses a new type of energy chip. It’s considered the pinnacle of the base’s current technology.
"Nowadays, full network coverage has been restored within the base, allowing for normal communication. Even outside the base, mobile cell towers will be deployed for this rescue operation, ensuring we stay connected the entire time. People from the Special Operations Department and the Military Command are also protecting the communication department staff as they actively restore networks everywhere." As he spoke, he took a bracelet from the box and handed it to Luna.
The bracelet was a matte silver-gray all over. It had a sleek, thin body with a fairly large screen, roughly the thickness of two coins. The edges featured nano-scale rounded corners, giving it a smooth and delicate feel.
The front of the bracelet housed a flexible touchscreen that emitted a faint blue glow when powered on. Three micro-ports were hidden on the side of the screen, containing an incredibly tiny energy chip and an identification card. Free of extraneous buttons, the overall design was minimalist and futuristic.
Hearing "full network coverage," Luna’s eyes instantly sparkled like stars. She reached out and took the bracelet, her fingertips gently tapping the screen. It immediately lit up, displaying a clean, intuitive interface.
She looked up at Francis, and the more she looked at him, the more handsome and reasonable he appeared. She couldn’t help but praise him, "Colonel Grant, you’re such a good person!"
Kevin Keane and Evan Olson also leaned in. The three of them gathered around the bracelet like curious children, taking turns touching and inspecting it.
Kevin didn’t forget to nitpick. He poked the bracelet and asked, "Is this thing durable? I don’t want it shattering into pieces the moment I bump into something while fighting zombies."
Francis explained patiently, "It’s made of high-strength alloy materials and can withstand impacts dozens of times the force of an Aberrant Beast’s strike. Rest assured."
He paused, then continued his introduction. "It has a built-in messaging app. Once registered, you can chat in real-time. By binding your ID card codes and passing a facial recognition scan, it’ll automatically generate your personal profiles. You can also use it to check the latest mission announcements and base news, or even use it as a points card."
Seeing the three of them unable to put the communication bracelets down, a pleasant sense of accomplishment welled up in Francis’s heart.
Noticing how interested Evan and Kevin were, Luna couldn’t help but ask, "Colonel Grant, are these bracelets mass-produced yet? I’d like to buy one for everyone in my family."
Francis choked slightly at her words and quickly coughed twice to hide his embarrassment. "COUGH, COUGH. They can’t be mass-produced just yet. We need to transport core materials like precious metals and high-end molecular materials back to the base from Tynport and Lianport first. Only then can we make them widely available for superpower users and essential base personnel."
"There are only a hundred of these in the entire base right now, and the Colonel gave you one. You should remember his kindness." Samuel Summers, usually a steady man, couldn’t help but speak up for his superior, a hint of subtle solemnity in his tone.
"I will, I will!" Luna agreed readily. "I always remember a favor when I get something for free! Colonel Grant, I owe you one."
Standing on the sidelines, Kevin watched Luna and Francis interact warmly, and an inexplicable surge of annoyance rose within him. The bracelet was so precious, yet Francis gave it away just like that, and Luna accepted it as if it were perfectly natural. Since when were the two of them so close?
Evan, however, spoke up politely, "Is it really okay for us to just take something so valuable?"
"It’s fine!" Luna replied without a second thought.
"It’s great. It’d be a waste not to take it," Kevin immediately chimed in, his tone carrying a hint of food-guarding stubbornness.
Evan was left speechless. He was just being polite. Was there really a need to refute him so earnestly?
Oblivious to their inner thoughts, Luna kept her head down, focused on studying the bracelet’s functions. Suddenly, she raised it and repeatedly adjusted its angle toward her face.
Curious, Kevin and Evan leaned over to see what was going on. Just then, with a CLICK, Luna pressed the shutter button, instantly capturing her profile picture.
She brought the screen close to her face and couldn’t help but let out a gasp. "Why did you guys suddenly photobomb me?!"
On the screen, her smiling face took up the center, while half of Kevin’s serious face peeked out on the left. On the right, one of Evan’s eyes and half of his eyebrow were squeezed into the frame. The picture couldn’t be any more crowded.
"Ah! This profile picture can only be taken once for now. It can’t be changed after registration..." Seeing this, Samuel quickly stepped forward to clarify.
"I thought you were tinkering with some novel feature, so I took a curious peek," Evan explained helplessly, a touch of apology in his voice.
Kevin, however, didn’t feel guilty at all. Instead, he smugly raised his chin. "What’s the rush? Without me, this photo would be a nine out of ten at best. With me, it’s a plus one, and with Evan, it’s a minus half. Overall, it’s still a net gain."
Luna stared at him suspiciously. "Do you have no shame?"
His arrogant demeanor really made her want to punch him the more she looked at it.
Evan was once again rendered speechless. He suspected Kevin had done it on purpose, but he had no proof.
Smiling, Francis took off his bracelet and gently tapped it against Luna’s, clicking confirm to add her as a friend.
When he saw the profile picture on Luna’s page, his mouth couldn’t help but twitch slightly. The sight of the three of them squeezed into one photo was indeed quite comical.
"You’ll have to wait until our technicians update the system next time before the retake feature becomes available," Francis said, casually opening Luna’s profile:
Name: Luna Dawson
Gender: Female
Age: 23
Height: 163 cm
Superpowers: Spatial Third Rank, Water Third Rank
Squad: Sunset Squad
"There’s also an ’Aberrant Circle’ feature in the chat app," Francis continued. "Technicians and superpower users share videos or text summaries of their experiences killing zombies and mutated flora and fauna. You can check it from time to time and gather whatever information you need."
He paused, his eyes filled with a bit of vision and anticipation. "Because there are so few bracelet owners right now, there isn’t much shared content. I hope that as the base develops, we can gradually popularize the bracelets and more convenient technologies for everyone."
Luna and the other two looked up at him, their gazes holding a bit more approval and a trace of admiration.
Just then, a knock came from the door.
Samuel answered it and led in two people wearing white lab coats.
Both carried silver-gray sealed briefcases and wore anti-radiation goggles and medical masks, obscuring their expressions. The strict protocol followed by the base’s research personnel on their outings indirectly highlighted the importance and safety of their scientific work.
"Hello, Colonel Grant. May I ask where the test sample is?" The slightly taller woman spoke, her voice gentle, melodious, and very pleasant to the ear.
Luna hurriedly raised her hand, retrieving the thermos from her spatial storage and placing it on the desk.
Francis didn’t say much; he merely nodded at the woman, signaling that she could take it.
The two researchers moved swiftly, quickly decanting the water into various test tubes before packing them along with the original thermos into their briefcases. Without a single wasted movement, the entire process was professional and highly efficient.
After they left, the group discussed the rescue of the survivors in Corbin for a long time, finalizing the upcoming assembly time and coordination details.
Luna and her companions went downstairs to collect their fuel. By the time they walked out of the Military Command headquarters building, night had completely fallen.
On the streets of District 1, new energy streetlamps cast a soft, warm glow. Holographic navigation screens provided directions at intersections, and vehicles loaded with supplies occasionally drove by smoothly, presenting an orderly and bustling scene.